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vent all misunderstanding or difficulties which may arise from ignorance or inattention, hereby publish the following ordinance, founded partly on the conventions existing between the European powers, and partly on the general laws of nations; and according to which our civil and military authorities, and in general all our subjects, are to regulate their conduct :

Art. I. We hereby command all our subjects, and the inhabitants of our hereditary states, not to suffer themselves to be enlisted, or to enter as volunteers into the service of either of the belligerent powers, under pain of those punishments which the law has established for leaving our countries without per

mission.

II. Our subjects shall not, in any other respect, take part in the war, or any military preparations; and in particular shall not fit out any privateer on behalf of either of the belligerent powers; nor even, when not in our territories, interest themselves in the war in any manner whatever.

III. In like manner we forbid all our subjects, or inhabitants of our harbours, roads, or coasts, to build, fit out, or sell any ships of war, or other ships, for the use of the belligerent powers, under pain of a fine of 5000 ducats, half to go to the informer, and half to the exchequer; or, in case of inability to pay, imprisonment, or corporal punishment.

IV. AllAustrian masters of ships are hereby forbidden to convey either soldiers or sailors to either of the belligerent powers, under the name of passengers; or to lend their names to the ships or property of the belligerent nations; or to carry goods into places blockaded by those powers; as in such case

they cannot enjoy the rights of neutrality, nor expect from us any protection or application in their favour.

V. None of the officers, and not more than one-third of the sailors on board an Austrian ship, are to be subjects of the belligerent nations, otherwise such ship cannot be considered as neutral.

VI. In the just expectation that the neutral Austrian trade will be respected by the belligerent powers according to the general laws of nations, or particular modifications, we hereby enjoin all commanders of Austrian ships on the high seas in no wise to refuse to submit to be visited, and not to make any difficulty to produce the papers and documents, which may prove the property of the ship and cargo, or to throw overboard or destroy such papers, much less to produce such as are doubtful or false.

VII. With respect to the articles deemed contraband in war, we will abide by the regulations of other neutral powers, and especially those agreed to by Russia, Sweden, and Denmark, in the convention of the 17th June, 1801; and we expect those powers will abide by the same with respect to our trade: we, in consequence, declare to be contraband, all cannons, mortars, muskets, pistols, bombs, grenades, bullets, flints, matches, gunpowder, saltpetre, sulphur, pikes, swords, sword-belts, cartridgeboxes, saddles and bridles. All ships which shall have more of these than may be necessary for their own defence, will not only be liable to the penalties we shall inflict, but must submit to the confiscation of the ship and cargo by the belligerent powers.

VIII. Except with respect to the warlike stores enumerated in the

1803.]

above article, no further limitation shall be laid on the trade of the hereditary states, with regard to such commodities, or products, as are not forbidden to be exported by laws already enacted, or which may be enacted. It is, however, forbidden to all our subjects, to purchase any magazines or transports, or materials for fitting out ships; at least no more of them than may be necessary for their own immediate use.

IX. It is understood that all commanders of neutral ships who shall sail for harbours or ports, either of neutral powers, or those engaged in war, will take care to apply to the proper authorities to supply them with the necessary passes, charter - parties, attestations, &c. which shall express the name of the proprietor, the quality and quantity of the cargo, and the person to whom it is consigned, that the same may be produced to prove the neutrality of the ship and cargo.

X. In the same manner as the Austrian ships are not prevented from entering the ports of the powers at war, the ships of the belligerent powers shall be permitted to enter the Austrian ports to repair, &c. provided they conduct themselves according to the rules of neutrality; but in order to observe a perfect neutrality with respect to ships of war, and avoid every occasion of offence, we order that no more than six ships of war of either of the belligerent powers shall be admitted at one time into any one of our ports.

XI. As in all the ports, roads, and coasts of our territory, every ship shall enjoy the protection of neutrality and perfect security, it will not be permitted that in the same, or within the distance of a

cannon shot from the shore, any
act of hostility shall be committed
by one or more of the belligerent
ships; nor shall any ship be pur-
sued, attacked, visited, or taken;
of which all the magistrates and
military authorities in our ports are
to take notice.

XII. Agreeably to the same
rights of neutrality, no ship of war
of either of the belligerent powers
the above-mentioned distance of
will be permitted to cruise within
our harbours or coasts; much less
to lie in our ports to attack the
ships which may arrive, or pursue
such as may go out.

XIII. When privateers or armed merchant-ships of the two powers at war are lying together in any of our ports, and one of them sails out, the other shall not leave the port till twenty-four hours afterwards; in which case the ship which entered the harbour first shall be at liberty to sail either twenty-four hours before or after the other. Ships of war or squadrons will not, however, be required to wait twenty-four hours, provided their commander will give his word of honour to the governor port not to commit any act of hostility during that time. This assu rance from the commander of a fleet or squadron need not be repeated; but must be renewed every time by the commander of a single ship of war; privateers or letters of marque must remain the time, or give satisfactory security that they will refrain from hostilities till that time is elapsed.

of thé

XIV. In like manner no ship of war shall be permitted to leave any port at the moment the signal is made of the arrival of another foreign ship, except under the conditions expressed in the former article.

XV. From

XV. From this regulation, however, are excepted all small vessels, such as tartanelles, trabaccolis, feluccas, row-boats, &c. the force of which is too inconsiderable to exercise hostilities; they may therefore depart at any time.

XVI. The enlisting of sailors in our ports for the service of either of the belligerent powers is forbidden; but if a few men are necessary to enable them to work their ships, they may provide themselves with them; under condition, however, that they enter voluntarily, and that none of our subjects, of the crews of foreign ships, are taken by force.

XVII. The prizes which one belligerent power may take from another may be brought into any of our ports where there is a government (gubernium), namely, Venice, Trieste, Fiume, Zeugg, and Zara, and the cargoes unladen and deposited, provided they do not consist of commodities the importation of which into our states is prohibited; and they be again taken away, if they are condemned by the judicial authorities of the countries of the captors. Should any of the commodities be liable to be damaged by time, they may be sold; but security must be given for their value, should the prize not be condemned..

XVIII. But in case complaint should be made that a ship has been taken contrary to the regulations in articles 10, 11, 12, and

13, of this ordinance, our gover nors or presidents of government shall institute a summary inquiry into the fact; and if they find that the ship has been captured in violation of the laws of neutrality, such príze shall be declared illegal, and forthwith restored to the owners.

XIX. It shall not be permitted the belligerent powers to land any individuals, their prisoners, in any of our ports or roads, or on our coasts; if they be so landed, they shall immediately be considered as free, and all our civil and military authorities shall be bound to afford them protection and assistance.

XX. In consequence of these regulations, we doubt not that the belligerent powers will acknowledge and observe, with respect to us, all the rights of neutral powers; and that the commanders of their fleets and ships of war will suffer our ships to proceed on their voy age, when provided with the necessary and proper passes, and render us in every particular impar tial justice.

XXI. The present ordinance shall be published in all our hereditary states, and especially in our ports and maritime towns, both in German and Italian; that all our subjects, and especially the civil and military authorities, may know in what manner to regulate their conduct.,

Given at Vienna, the 7th of Au gust, 1803.

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1803.1
PUBLIC ACTS passed in the First
and Second Sessions of the Second
Imperial Parliament.

April 7, 1803.

An act for enrolment of the Irish militia.

An act in aid of Roman-catholic subjects.

May 17.

An act for the better collection of his majesty's revenue in Ireland. For securing the freedom of election at Nottingham.

For the better payment of innkeepers quartering soldiers.

27.

To provide relief for the families of militia-men.

To amend the acts relating to the exportation of bullion.

To prevent frivolous and vexaious suits of arrest and execution.

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To remedy defects arising from the issuing exchequer bills.

For protecting the trade during the war with France.

For regulating the carriage expenses from this kingdom to his majesty's plantations abroad.

For the relief of soldiers, sailors, marines, and their wives.

July 4.

certain

An act for granting to his majes
ty additional duties on
goods, and on the tonnage of ships
and vessels.

For granting 20,000l. towards
making roads and building bridges
in the Highlands of Scotland.

To grant fresh duties on excise.
For amending the stamp duties.

To grant allowances to certain subaltern officers whilst disembodied.

To augment the field and other officers of militia.

For the regulation of the bribery bath at elections.

To punish accessaries in felonies in Ireland.

To regulate the sale or mort gage of the estates of lunatics.

To extend the provisions in the use of horse hides for making boots and shoes, and to prevent the cutting of raw hides.

July 5.

For granting additional duties on excise.

27.

For raising 1,000,000%. Irish currency by treasury bills.

For granting 20,0001. to make a canal by Inverness and Fort Wil liam from the eastern to the western sea.

To provide for the security of the realm in case of invasion.

For the better security of his Ireland. majesty's customs and excise in

For regulating the trade of a distiller in Ireland.

To permit the landing and ware housing Portugal wines free of duty, in certain cases.

For completing more effectually the militia of Great Britain.

For effecting the augmentation of the maintenance of the poor clergy.

To entitle spiritual persons to hold farms.

To promote the building par sonage houses, &c.

For the relief and employment of the poor.

To prevent thefts on the river Thames.

Relating

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An act for raising the sum of 2,000,000l.

For raising 1,500,000l. by way of loan or exchequer bills. For granting his majesty certain duties on receipts.

For settling 16,000l. per annum on the family of the prince of Orange.

For charging an additional duty on qaussia.

To enable the commissioners of the treasury to issue exchequer bills for the service of the year.

To consolidate the duties on stamped vellum and parchment. For further regulation of the duties by customs.

For regulating the excise on teas and coffee sent to Ireland.

For augmenting the duties on malt and beer in Scotland.

To enable his majesty better to

exercise his prerogative of calling for the military aid of his subjects.

For preventing the forgery of foreign notes and bills of exchange, and to prevent the counterfeiting foreign copper money.

For rendering justices of the peace more safe in the administra tion of their duty.

December 15.

An act for granting certain du ties on malt in Great Britain. For granting a duty on pensions,

&c.

For raising 5,000,000l. by loan or exchequer bills.

For granting 8,000l. for the present relief of certain curates.

For the suppression of rebellion, and protection of his majesty's subjects in Ireland.

To continue the restrictions on the payment of cash by the bank of England.

To regulate the drawback on sugar exported from this kingdom. To prevent the distillation from oats in Ireland.

BIOGRAPHICAL

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